Pakistan Test Fires Nuclear Armed Cruise Missile

Babur HATF-VII cruise missile launched from a multi-tube missile launcher vehicle (MLV). Photo: ISPRPakistan announced it had test-fired a nuclear-capable cruise missile on Monday, September 17, 2012. The Hatf-VII Babur cruise missile developed in Pakistan was attributed by the military as having “stealth features”. Babur is a low-flying, terrain-hugging missile, which can strike targets both at land and sea with pinpoint accuracy. It has a range of 700km.Pakistan’s last missile test, also of a Hatf-VII, came in June as part of six ballistic and cruise missile launches that came after a similar series of missile test launches by india.
The missile was launched from a “Multi Tube Missile Launch Vehicle (MLV)”, which facilitates supporting systems to improve the Babur targeting and deployment capabilities.

The missile is equipped with modern cruise missile technology of Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) and Digital Scene Matching and Area Co-relation (DSMAC), it can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads.

The test also evaluated the Pakistani National Command Authority’s fully automated Strategic Command and Control Support System (SCCSS), supervising the operations and deployment of the nation’s strategic weapons assets. The system also has the added capability of real time monitoring of the missile in flight.

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